Global France Seminar presents, Keith Baker and Jean-Paul Marat: Prophet of Terror Presented by Keith Baker J.E. Wallace Sterling Professor in Humanities & Professor by courtesy of French and Italian at Stanford University Wednesday, February 11, 2026 @ 5:00 PM Belfer Case Study Room, CGIS-S020 Harvard University 1730 Cambridge Street Cambridge, MA 02138 Reception to follow in CGIS-S030 Global France Seminar, sponsored by Lit@MIT, French+, History at MIT, and The Joint Center of History & Economics at Harvard University More Info: https://www.mitfrench.com/global-france-seminar
Dear colleagues, students, and friends, Join us for the 2026 GHI 7th Forum! This session introduces the GHI Pillar Environment, Biodiversity & Planetary Stewardship, in particular two projects Thermal Worlds: A Deep History of the Human Relationship to Cold and Warmth and Ruination and Repair: The Long Human Afterlife of Environmental Disaster. 7th GHI Forum Title: Environment, Biodiversity & Planetary Stewardship Date: Feb 13, 2026, 10:00–11:30 AM EST Where: Online (Zoom Registration Link: https://mit.zoom.us/meeting/register/CGiHfwLpTxSAgzCTgqVptw) Speakers: Tristan G Brown, Or Porath 【Abstract】 Our presentation, introducing GHI's Environment and Planetary Stewardship Pillar, examines how human communities understand and inhabit a rapidly changing planet. In an era of climate disruption, biodiversity loss, and ecological degradation, the pillar brings humanistic methods into conversation with sustainability science, energy studies, earth systems, and policy. We study how literature, religion, law, art, and ritual shape ecological perception and guide responses to crisis, adaptation, and repair. By tracing patterns of resilience and injustice across places and periods, the initiative asks how cultural meaning can inform more equitable forms of stewardship, and how narrative and ethics can transform debates on sustainability and climate futures today. Looking forward to seeing you at our events! The GHI Team
Spring 2026 Lit Tea Date: Monday, February 2nd Time: 4:15pm - 5:45pm Location: Building 14, Room 14N-417 Come by for snacks & tea with Literature Section friends, instructors, & students!
Presented by Matthew Gabriele Professor of Medieval Studies Department of Religion & Culture, Virginia Tech Abstract: At the end of the 8thcentury, the Franks under their new Carolingian kings built an empire that spanned Europe and inspired the respect of both emperor(s) in Byzantium and caliphs in Baghdad. But by the middle of the next century, the empire was in tatters. In June 841, a field outside Auxerre (in modern France) lay drenched in blood, as old friends killed one another, as brother fought brother. This talk will focus on the fateful battle of Fontenoy in June 841 and particularly the account of 1 participant – a warrior named Angelbert and the poem he wrote about the battle, detailing how an empire that seemed so secure, so tightly bound in its political and cultural consensus, could be destroyed so quickly by greed and vengeance over a disputed succession to power. Bio: Matthew Gabriele is a professor of medieval studies at Virginia Tech,. His research and teaching cover the European Middle Ages, ideas of religion and violence, as well as nostalgia and apocalypse. He has written forThe Washington Post, CNN, Smithsonian Magazine, and MSNBC, among others, and interviews with him have appeared on […]
Literature Section
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